Compensating steam-engine and pressure-accumulator therefor.



No. 729,268. PATENTED MAY 26, 1903.

W. 0. BROWN.

GOMPENSATING STEAM ENGINE AND PRESSURE AGCUMULATOR THEREFOR APPLICATIONrunn un. a1, 1902.

Z Y Jnverg'io'r PATENTED MAY 26, 1903.

- W. 0. BROWN. OMPENSATING STEAM ENGINE AND PRESSURE AGCUMULATORTHEREFOR. E

APPLIOATIOH FILED MAR. 31, 1902.

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PATENTED'MAY 26, 1903.

w. 0; BROWN. GOMPENSATING STEAM ENGINE AND PRESSURE AOCUMULATORTHEREFOR.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 31, 1902.

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UNITED STATES i atented May 26, 1903.

PATENT OFFICE.

\VILLIAM 0. BROWN, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO HENRY R.VVOR'IHINGTON, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

COMPENSATING STEAM-ENGINE AND PRESSURE-'ACCUMULATQR THEREFOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 729,268, dated May 26,1903.

Application filed March 31.1902.

To all whont it may concern:

- struction for high-duty duplex steam pumping-engines of that class inwhich the steam is cut off from the steam-cylinders early in the stroke,so as to use the steam expansively, and compensating cylindersare'employed in which the compensating pistons are subjected to pressurecontrolled by an accumulator and actto resist the movement of thepistons and store up pressure during the first part of the stroke and toaid the pistons during the latter part of the stroke when the steam iscut 0E, thus 'equalizingthe powerot' the en gine throughout the stroke.

The accumulator. construction of the present invention avoids the use ofthe air systems previously employed and the air-pump necessaryformaintaining the air in such systems against leakage and may-readilybe adjusted' to secure the desired compensatingcylinder action for thedistribution of the steam-pressure, and init the pressure in thecompensating cylinders is directly dependent upon the force-main andimmediately relieved in case of a sudden reduction of pres- In thedrawings which show the invention s mi No. 100.678. (No model.)

as applied in its preferred form in connection with a well-known form ofcompound duplex direct-acting pumping-engines, Figure 1 is a sideelevation of the engine. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same. Fig. 3is adetail central vertical section of the accumulator. Fig. 4 is ahorizontal section on the line 4 of Fig. 3.

Referring to said drawings, AB and C D are respectively thehigh-pressure cylinders and-the low-pressure cylinders on opposite sidesof the engine, E the induction-pipe for the high-pressure cylinders, Fthe exhaustpipe to receiver G, H the induction-pipe for the low-pressurecylinders, and I the lowpressure exhaust-pipe.

The pistons of the high-pressure cylinders on opposite sides of theengine are connected by piston-rods ed to cross-heads J, with which areconnected the pistons of swinging compensating cylinders K, and to thecrossheads J are connected byside rods 6 the lowpressure steam-pistons.Thecompensating cylinders K are connected by pipe L with the accumulatorconstruction presently to be described. At the pump end the oppositesides are marked M N, and O is the suction-main and 'P theforce-main,.the plunger-s fg at the outer ends of the pump-cylindersbeing shown as actuated by the cross-heads Q, connected by side rods tothe cross-head J.

The construction so faras above described is well known, and itrwill beunderstood that my accumulator construction is equally applicabletoother types of high-duty compensating pumping-engines.

The steam-valve movement by which the admission, cut-off, and exhaust ofthe steam is controlled may be of any suitable form; but I. have shown aconstruction embodying certain features which form the subject-matter ofanother application, in which valve movement the admissionrand cut-offvalves at the top of the cylinders have the usual crank-arms 10, whichare connected by two links 11 to a primary rocker 't' and by'a link 12,jointed to the links 11 at their'point of connection to a secondaryrocker is, these links 12 being preferably made adjustable in length,for which purpose turnbuckles 3 are shown. The primary rockers 7; of thehighpressure cylinders are connected by links 13 with the valve movementand by links 14 with the rockers i of the low-pressure cylinders. Thelinks 13 are connected to crankarms 15 on crossover-shafts 16 and theadmission-levers 17 on rock-shafts 16 on the opposite sides of theengine are connected to Y cross-heads J by links 18, all as usual invalve movements of duplex engines. The secondary rockers 71' of thehigh-pressure cylinders have crank-arms 19, which are connected by links20 to the cut-off levers of the valve movement, and the rockers k of thehigh-pressure cylinders are connected by links 21 to the rockers 76 ofthe low-pressure cylinders. The cut-off levers 22 on each side of theengine are actuated from the cross-heads J of their own side throughlinks 23. The exhaust-valves are shown as actuated from the primaryrockers't' through links 24, connected to crank-arms 25 on thevalve-stems.

The pressure in the compensating cylinders is controlled and madedirectly dependent upon the force-main, so as to secure uniform pressurethroughout the stroke and at the same time make thecompensating-cylinder pressure dependent upon the force-pressure andrelieve it immediately upon a fall of pressure in the force-main by thefollowing construction: The supply-pipe L for the compeusating cylindersconnects with the forcemain P and with chamber 26 of the accumulatorbelow the accumulator-piston 27, which is carried by a cylinder R, whichmoves up and down with the accumulator-piston 27 upon verticalguide-rods 28. This cylinder Roont-ains a central cylindrical chamber 29and an annular chamber 30, surronndingit. In the cylindrical chamber 29is a stationary piston 31, carried by rod 32, connected to cross-head33, carried by the guide-rods 28. This cylinder 29 is provided with airor other expansible fluid, so that as the cylinder R moves up and downwith piston 27 the air is compressed on one or the other side of thepiston 31 and pipe 34, connecting, the opposite ends of the cylinder andcontrolled by a cock 8, is provided, by which the expansible fluid incylinder 29 may be passed from one end of the cylinder to the other, soas to regulate as desired the pressure on opposite sides of the piston31. The outer chamber of the cylinderR is preferably supplied withliquid, which is used as an adjustable accumulator-weight and may formthe only weight of the accumulator, but is preferably used onlyas aweight additional to the weights S, which are commonly employed inweighted accumulators, these weights being shown as carried byrodsupports 35,dependingfrom cylinder R. The liquid-cylinder 30 is shownas provided with an inlet 36, by which liquid may be admitted from thesupply-pipe 37, and with the cock 38, through which water may be drawnoff from the cylinder 30, and thus the accumulator-weight be readilyadjusted by adding or drawing 0E liquid, as desired. While liquid ispreferably used in the cylinder R, other materials that will flowreadily may be used, such as sand or shot; but liquid is much the mostconvenient and efficient for adjustment of theweight.

Between the compensating cylinders and the force-main'P a check-valve mis provided opening toward the force-main. This checkvalve will benormally closed as the pressure in the main P normally exceeds somewhatthe pressure-in the compensating cylinders and pipe L, so that therewill be no flow of water from the main into the system through thisvalve; but if the pressure in the main is suddenly reduced thecheck-valve m will open and at once correspondingly reduce the pressurein the compensating cylinder.

The compensating system as thus far described is complete in itself, andany suitable provision may be made for adding to or removing liquid fromthe accumulator system; but I may add to this system the devices shownby which the amount of the liquid in the accu mulatorsystem isautomatically regulated by drawing liquid from the force-main when theliquid in the compensating system falls too low and drawing off to wasteliquid from the system in case of excess. In the construction shown apipe 39 from the force-main or from the pipe L between the check-valve mand the force-main connects through a chamber 40 with a pipe 41, whichis connected to the pipe L between the check-valve m and thecompensating cylinders. The chamber 40 has a partition between the twopipes 39 41, provided with a port controlled by a valve 6, openingtoward the force-main, so as to be uniformly closed by the excess offorcepressure above the accumulatorpressure. The stem of this valve 6 isconnected to a lever 42, and the accumulator-weight S carries anadjustable abutment 43, shown as formed by a screw and set-nut, whichengage the lever 42 if the accumulator-weight S falls too low, and thusforces the valve 6 downward against the pressure in pipe 39 andforce-main and opens the port, so as to connect the two pipes 39 41, andthus admit liquid from the force-main to the accumulator system. Forwithdrawing liquid from the accumulator system in case of excess a pipe44 connects the pipe L in the accumulator system to a waste-pipe 45through a chamber 46, similar to the chamber 40 and provided with apartition having a port controlled by a valve 7, opening toward theaccumulator system, so as to be normally closed by the pressure in thesystem, the stem of this valve 7 being connected to a lever 47, which isactuated by an adjustable abutment 48 on the weight S in case the weightS rises too high on account of excess of liquid in the accumulatorsystem, thus connecting the pipes 44 45 and withdrawing liquid from theaccumulator system until the weight S is lowered to its normal height.

The operation of this accumulator convases struction will be readilyunderstood without extended description, the action of theaccumulator-piston 27, in connection with the pistons of thecompensating cylinders K, supplied with fluid under accumulator-pressurethrough the pipe L, being the same as in other compensating cylindersand accumulator constructions now well known. The accumulator-pressuremay readily and conveniently be adjusted to the point desired by addingliquid to or removingit from the cylinder 30, so that a very accurateand convenient means of adjusting the accumulatorpressure is thusprovided. The movement of the cylinder R upon the stationary piston 31in cylinder 29 acts to aid in starting the accumulatonpiston 27 by theexpansion of the elastic fluid in cylinder 29 and to cushion theaccumulator piston in its movement. The pressure below the piston 31 maybe so adjusted relatively to the pressure above the piston 31 as toserve as a balancing pressure and will totally or partially avoid thevariation in pressure in the compensating cylinder that otherwise wouldresult from starting and stopping the accumulatorweight. It will beunderstood, however,that this elastic-fluid cylinder is not absolutelyessential and that instead of using astationary piston and movablecylinder the piston may be movable and the cylinder stationary.

The connection of the pipe L to. the forcemain, with the valve m betweenthe two, so

that the liquid in pipe L flows directly to the force-main in case offall" in force-pressure, forms a most efficient safety device by whichthe pressure in the compensating cylinders is immediately relieved uponreduction of forcemain pressure. This avoids the delay in relieving thepressure in the compensating cyl-' inders, which necessarily exists insystems employing expansible fluid between the forcemain and thecompensating cylindersf It will be understood that the device forcontrolling the amount of liquid in the pipe L and accumulator-chamber26, consisting of the pipes 39 44 and their controlling devices, neednot be employed, although they are preferably used for automatic controlof the accumulator system. If these are omitted, any suitable form ofsafety-valve may be placed upon the compensating system, so as to avoidthe accumulator-piston rising too high.

The invention provides a very simple and efficient compensatingaccumulator construction for securing a uniform pressure through thestroke by the steam controlled by the valve movement in which thecompensating pressure may readily be adjusted with great accuracy,pulsations or shocks in the system are avoided, and the compensatingpressure is relieved without the delay incident to an expansiblefluid-accumulator system in case of fall of pressure in the force-main.This accumulator construction, however, is of value for other uses thancontrolling the compensating pressure in steam engines and forms initself a part of the present invention.

It will'be understood that modifications may be made in the accumulatorconstruction shown without departing from the invention and that I amnot to be limited to the exact construction or arrangement of devicesillustrated.

What is claimed is 1. The combination with a pumping-engine and its mainandcompensating cylinders and their pistons, of an accumulator forcontrolling the pressure in the compensating cylinders having itspiston-chamber connected with the compensating cylinders and with theforce-main of the engine, and a check-valve opening toward theforce-main between the accumulator and the forcemain, substantially asdescribed.

2. The combination with a pumping-engine and its main and coin pensatingcylinders and their pistons, of an accumulator for controlling thepressure in the compensating cylinders having a weighted piston andhaving its piston-chamber connected with the compensating cylinders andwith the force-main of the engine, and an expansible-fluid cylinder andpiston therein, one of said members being carried by theaccumulator-piston, substantially as described.

3. The combination with a pumping-engine and its main and compensatingcylinders and their pistons, of an accumulator for controlling thepressure in the compensating cylinders having a weighted piston andhavingits piston-chamber connected with the compensating cylinders andwith the force-main of the engine, a check-valve opening toward theforce-main between the accumulator and the force-main, and anexpansible-fluid cylinder and piston therein, one of said members beingcarried by the accumulator-piston, substantially as described. I

4. The combination with a pumping-engine and its main and compensatingcylinders and their pistons, of an accum ulator-chamberconnected to thecompensating cylinders and force-main, an accumulator-piston in saidchamber, and a receptacle for flowing nonexpansible material carried bysaid piston, whereby the accumulator-pressure may be varied by varyingthe amount of material in the receptacle, substantially as described.

-5. The combination with a pumping-engine and its main and compensatingcylinders and their pistons, of an accumulator-chamber connected to thecompensating cylinders and force-main, an accumulator-piston in saidchamber, a receptacle for flowing'non-expansible material carried bysaidpiston, whereby the accumulator-pressure may be varied by varyingthe amount of material in the receptacle, and an expansible-fluidcylinder and piston therein, one of said members being carried by theaccumulator-piston, substantially as described.

6. The combination with a pu mping-engine and its main and compensatingcylinders and their pistons, of an accumulator-chamber connected to thecompensating cylinders and force main, an accumulator piston in saidchamber, a liquid-receptacle carried by said piston whereby the accumnlator-pressure may be varied by varying the amount of liquid in thereceptacle, an expansible-fiuid cylinder and piston therein, one of saidmembers being carried by the accumulator-piston, and valve-controlledconnection between the opposite ends of the expansible-fluid cylinderfor varying the pressure on opposite sides of the piston therein,substantially as described.

7. The combination with a pumping-engine and its main and compensatingcylinders and their pistons, of an accumulator-chamber connected to thecompensating cylinders and force-main, a weighted accumulator-piston insaid chamber, an expansiblefluid cylinder and piston therein, one ofsaid members being carried by the accumulator-piston, andvalve-controlled connections between the opposite ends of theexpansible-fluid cylinder for'varying the pressure on opposite sides ofthe piston therein, substantially as described.

8. The combination with a pumping-engine and its main and compensatingcylinders and their pistons, of an accumulator-chamber connected to thecompensating cylinders and force-main, a check-valve opening toward theforce-main between the accumulator-chamber and force-main,a pipeconnecting the accumulator system with the force-main, and a valvenormally closing said pipe but opened by the accumulator-piston to admitliquid from the force-main to the accumulator system when theaccumulator-piston falls too low, substantially as described.

9. The combination with a pumping-engine and its main and compensatingcylinders and their pistons, of an accumulator-chamber connected to thecompensating cylinders and force-main, a check-valve opening toward theforce-main between the accumulator-chamber and force-main, awaste-outlet for the accumulator system, and a valve normally closingsaid waste-outlet but actuated by the accumulator-piston to open saidwaste-outlet and permit the discharge of liquid from the system when theaccumulatorpiston rises too high, substantially as described.

10. The combination with a pumping-engine and its main and compensatingcylinders and their pistons, of an accumulator-chamber connected to thecompensating cylinders and force-main, acheck-valve opening toward theforce-main between the accumulator-chamber and force-main, supplyconnections between the force-main and the compensating system and awaste-outlet for the compensating system, valves normally closing saidpipe connections and waste-outlet, and means for actuating said valvesto open the supply connections or waste-outlet for the supply ordischarge of liquid to or from the compensating system when theaccumulator-piston falls too low or rises too high, substantially asdescribed.

11. The combination with an accumulatorchamber and piston, of areceptacle carried by the piston, and flowing non-expansible material insaid receptacle for weighting the piston, substantially as described.

12. The combination with an accumulatorchamber and accumulator-pistonweighted to secure substantially the required accumulator-pressure, ofan expansible-fluid cylinder and piston therein, one of said membersbeing carried by the accumulator-piston, substantially as described.

13. The combination with an accumulatorchamber and weightedaccumulator-piston therein, of an expansible-fiuid cylinder and pistontherein, one of said members being carried by the piston, andvalve-controlled connections between the opposite ends of the cylinderfor varying the pressure on opposite sides of the piston therein,substantially as described.

14. The combination with an accumulator cylinder and piston, of areceptacle carried by the piston, flowing non-expansible material insaid receptacle for weighting the piston, and an expansible-fluidcylinder and piston therein, one of said members being carried by theaccumulator-piston, substantially as described.

15. The combination with an accumulator chamber and piston, ofliquid-receptacle R carried by the accumulator-piston, expansible-fluidcylinder 29 in and moving with said receptacle, and stationary piston 31in said cXpansible-fluid cylinder, substantially as described.

16. The combination with the accumulator chamber 26 and piston 27, ofweights S carried by the piston, cylindrical liquid-chamber R foradjustably weighting the piston, and expansible-fiuid cylinder 29 andpiston 31 therein, one of said members being carried by the accumulator-piston, substantially as described.

17. The combination with an accumulator, of a pipe connecting theaccumulator system with a fluid-supply having a pressure greater thanthat of the system, a valve normally closing said pipe and means foropening said valve by the accumulator-piston to admit fluid to thesystem when the piston falls too low, substantially as described.

18. The combination with an accumulator, of a waste-outlet from thesystem, a valve normally closing said outlet, and means for opening saidvalve by the accumulator-piston for the discharge of fluid from thesystem when the piston rises too high, substantially as described.

19. The combination with an accumulator, of a supply connection and awaste-outlet for the accumulator system,valves normally closing saidsupply connection and waste-outlet,

and means for actuating said valves to open my hand in the presence oftwo subscribing the supply connections or waste-outlet for witnesses.the supply or discharge of liquid to or from the accumulator system whenthe accumuv WILLIAM BROWN 5 lator-piston falls too low or rises toohigh, Witnesses:

substantially as described. T. F. KEHOE,

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set C. J. SAWYER.

